Indicator



Jan. 22, 1924 I w. HOCKIN INDICATOR Filed March 26. 1923 Z.

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Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,467

w. HOCKIN INDICATOR Filed March 26 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 REFEEIEF Y a m-zqa-R-s HEEHSHEIEEF ifmw Tm I ZUaZier Hoe/i372 Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

UNETED STATES WALTER HOCKIN, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

INDICATOR.

Application filed March 26, 1923. Serial No. 627,906.

T 0 all LU ham it may concern Be it known that I, VVALTER HooKIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in indicatin devices, having for an ob ject to provi e an inter-changeable indicator especially advantageous for use in laundries and like establishments, where it is desired to register each and every step followed in the process of laundrying matter and also, to indicate to an attendant or washman, the nature of the matter being laundered, the approximate time consumed during the steps of laundering and the particular machine or apparatus in which the matter being laundered is, hence, enabling a single attendant or washman to accurately follow and be advised of the contents of each machine or apparatus and those condi- I tions peculiar to each.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the detailed following description basedthereon, shown several possible embodiments of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of the improved indicator;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section therethrough showing the manner in which the indicating pieces are engaged with the base or rack portion; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in perspective of one of the indicating pieces;

Figure A} is a fragmentary detail in perspective of a slightly modified form of the indicator;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a still further modified form of the invention; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in elevation of a portion of the modifications shown in the Figure 5.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, and having particular reference to that modification illustrated in the Figure 1, the improved indicator may be stated to comprise a substantially rectangular base 1 having a stem or shank portion 2 extending from one end thereof and provided with openings 3 adapted to receive screws or other suitable fastening devices whereby the indicator may be fixedly secured in position upon a suitable supporting object,

The central portion of the base 1 is foraminated, that is, is composed of a plurality of intersecting relatively parallel longitudinally and transversely arranged bars and 5 respectively. thus forming, a plurality of juxtaposed hollow squares, or squared openings, as clearly shown in the Figure 1. 9;

Upon one side marginal portion of the base 1 there is arranged in consecutive fashion the numerals one to twelve inclusive, indicated, generally, by the numeral 6, such numerals being arranged immediately adjacent of the transversely disposed rows of squared openings hereinbefore referred' to. These symbols 6 are adapted to be indicative of the consecutive intervals of time and afl'ordimeans whereby the approximate time that the various matters tobe laundered are placed in the different machines or apparatus may be accurately followed in order that the steps of laundering may be properly performed. 7

Other symbols consisting of the letters and numbers arranged as follows :B-1 2B R-S and an oval symbol 7 are arranged adjacent the upperside of thebase 1, the former symbols being generally designated by the numeral 8. These symbols 7 and 8 as will be noted upon reference to the Figure 1 are arranged directly adjacent the various rows of longitudinally disposed squared openings and are adapted to serve as means for permitting the various steps of a laundering process to be indicated to an attendant or washman' in the laundry; the first symbol B being indicative of a soda bath, commonly employed in laundering processes, the numeral one the first suds, the numeral two, the second suds, the second symbol or letter'B the boiling or bleaching ofthe matter, the letter R the rinsing of the matter being laundered, the

letter S'thersousing bathtor which matters being laundered are commonly II subjected and the symbol 7 the bluing of thematter.

In this connection, itshould-be noted that.

ored blue in order that it may be readilv observed by an attendant orvwashman.

A plurality of indicating pieces consist- 10.1 .ing (t substantially square sheet inet a1 deiv-icesi 9.1"are 1pnovided the indicator and; as i Willbe;noted, have. substantially right angu- .1larlyformed fingers arranged upon 2 the 11-; upper ends thereof; While right= angularly 15 Edispos'ed ifin'gers 10rextensions ill are formed aopportion of the base 1. These indicating pieces have =certaini indicia or symbols presented upon their outer faces andin the oipresent embodiment,-such symbols may be stated to comprise the letters -B-D-'GL -4*-N' O- S- WV such. matter being indica- 'tive oi'i the particular nature of the goods to ibe, indicated by the devicept'hat is, the letter 1B indicating blankets, the-=letter D indicataing blues 1 (material colored blue the letter G ginghams, the letter L linen,-the"letter N netted goods; thedetter "O overalls, the letter S socks and the letter ll \voolens.

VVhen the -indicati-ng--pieces 9 are not in use" upon'- the indicating device, they are preferably:engaged with the-transverse bars 1 5 along the lower transverse rows otsquared -iopenin'gs',rin the manner shown in the Figure I 1. Thus, when it i's desired-to use the same, i the indicatingpieces -may be-read-ily de- 40 tached a'nd moved to the'desired position upon the I indicator.

In using -theimproved indicator and assuming thatblankets are to be laundered, Ihc=attendant or washman Will-remove th at indicating piece 9- -bearing' the letter L from 'the lower ioraminated portion 'of the indicator base 1 and" Willplace it directly'adjace'nt or-oppositeithe particularsymbol 6' '"rvhich;- represents :the approximate time at so "which the process is started. Inplacing the indicating piece directly adjacent the partic ular symbol 6 indicating the approximate time *ofstarting of the laundering process, it vv'ill' be-also understood that the same i'vill' 5 t bearranged in the first longitudinallydisposed row of squared openings, indicated by the first letter L 015 the symbols 8, thus indi-' oatingto the'washman or-attendant that the s-'bla-'nkets sare' -receiving a'so'da bath. "WVith" o0 progress of-thelaundering process-the inl dicatingypiece 9qis'removed from the first longitudinally disposed row of' gsquared "openings indicated-by the first letter L' to the second row of squaredopenings indicated by oa -the numeral 1 thus being indicative of the :fact that the blanketsarexnow receiving their first shds, Whereupon the piece Qisthen ad vanced into the third longitudinal column of -,squared,-openings indicated by the numeral 6 the symbol 7 preferably does consist of a" substantially oval symbol, preferablyqycol- 2, indicating that the blankets are then receiving the second suds. At this tune, the indicating piece 9 is advanced to the fourth longitudinally idisposed row of squared openings indicated by the second letter L of the symbols 8, thus-showingthatithe blankets are being boiled or-bleachedasz'the process may be; whereupon with completion of this partioular step, the indicating piece 9. r is moved to the fifth row of longitudinally :dis

posed squared openings to indicate to the v upon the lower side of the pieces andaswvill 1 be appreciated; a-fi'o rd convenient means for l engaging and moving the indicating pieces 11 to' the desiredpositionupon the foraminated 'wa'shman that ithe blankets have been 'removed from the boiling orbleaching unachine or apparatus and are then b'cin rinsed, subsequently to which the indicating piece is advanced to the sixth longitudina llyndisposed row of squared openings, thus indicating thatthe blankets are receiving, the usual sour bath; after which 'the piece is then passed to the lastrow of the longitudinally disposed rows of squared openings, Whereby toindicate that the'blankets' are theirbeing-blued. 'Duringthe advance of thein- "dicatingpiece' 9 from} the various longitudi- "nally disposed rows of squared openin'gs indicated by the numerals T and. 8, it 0% course \vill be understoodthat its positioning with respect to the transversely disposed rows of squared openings will be changed, because of the constant'changing of time during the varioussteps of the process. -Hence, should anindica-ting piece be first placed adjacent the numeral one of thesyinbol 6, it may, for

purposes of illustration, when reaching the last row of longitudinally disposed square openings be in the particular transverse row "of squared openings ad accnt to or indicated by the numeral 5 of saidsymbol- 6.

In the Figure 4, I have-shown a slightly modified form of the indicator, wherein instead ofprovidingan indicator base of a foraminated construction, that is,- consisting of the longitudinally and transversely disposed roWs of squared openings, such indicating base is provided with a plurality of transverse and longitudinally disposed rows of-circular openings indicated by the numeral 12, which openings are "adapted to snugly receive cylindrical plugs carrying heads 13 thereon upon Which symbols as indicated at .14 are presented whereby to indicate-the particular" nature of the matter being laundered. "The operation of this particular niodification of the indicator, of course, will correspond tothat as set out in connection \viththe embodiment shown in the Figure 1 except that the indicatingiplugs carryingthe'heads13 are inter-changed With respect to the circular openings 12 as the laundering process progresses.

- In the Figure 5, thereis shown a still further modified form of the invention and in this particular form of the indicator de vice, the same comprises a substantially rectangular frame 15 having a plurality of transversely disposed relatively spaced parallel rods or wires 16 spanning the open intermediate portion thereof and secured at their opposite ends to the adjacent inner sides of the frame 15. These rods 16 are divided into two sets by means of transversely disposed partition 17, the upper set of rods: being adapted to slidably support thereon indicating tags generally designated by the numeral 18. The indicating pieces 18 hearing the letters B-D-N-S are arranged adjacent certain ends of the rods 16, while the remaining indicating pieces are arranged adjacent the opposite ends thereof as clearly shown in the Figure 5.

The second set of rods 16, that is, those rods below the transverse partition 17 slidably support thereon indicating pieces 19 having the numerals one and two, three and four, five and six, seven and eight, nine and ten, and, eleven and twelve presented thereon, such indicating pieces 19 being arranged in pairs and normally positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said lower set of rods 16, as shown in the Figure 5. Spaced stops or abutments 20 are formed in equidistant relation throughout the lengths of the lower group or set of rods 16 and as will be noted, are arranged in longitudinally aligned relation, whereby such longitudinally aligned rows may be indicated by the symbols B12BRS and the symbol 21, the former symbol being generally indi cated by the numeral 22.

In operation of this latter embodiment of the invention, should ginghams, indicated by the indicating piece bearing the letter G be laundered, said indicating piece bearing such letter G would be moved to the intermediate portion of the particular rod 16 supporting the same, thus clearly indicating to the washman or attendant that ginghams are being or are to be laundered. At this time, that particular indicating piece 19 bearing the numeral indicative of the approximate time of the start of the laundering process would be moved along its particular supporting rod 16 until the first abutment or stop 20 was engaged by the looped end of the supporting wire thereof, such stop being in the longitudinal row indicated by the first symbol B showing that the ginghams were receiving a soda bath. As the laundering process progresses, the indicating piece would be advanced to the different positions upon its supporting rod beneath the designated longitudinally disposed rows of stops 20. However, as the time consumed by the laundering process advances or passes, it would then become necessary to select another of the indicating pieces 19 approximately indicating the time and to advance it to the particular abutment or stop 20 coming under the longitudinally disposed rows of designated stops. Thus, the washman will be enabled to accurately follow the various steps of the laundering process in order that the same may be properly performed.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided a simple but meritorious form of indicating device especially advantageous for use in laundries, whereby a single attendant or washman can successfully attend to the timing and advance of the various steps of a laundering process to which matters to be laundered are subjected. Furthermore, by following the indicator, the contents of each and every machine or apparatus in the laundry room may be accurately ascertained as well as the condition of the same, the particular step of the laundering process to which they are being subjected and the time of such step of the process.

Manifestly, the constructions shown are capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim An indicator comprising a substantially rectangular base having the intermediate portion thereof divided into transverse and longitudinally disposed rows of squared openings by transversely and longitudinally arranged bars, the transverse rows of squared openings being individually designated by a group of symbols indicative of the consecutive hours and the longitudinally disposed row of squared openings being individually designated by a group of symbols indicative of the various steps of a laundering process and indicating pieces comprising metal bodies having substantially right angularly formed fingers arranged upon their upper ends and substantially right angularly and outwardly disposed extensions formed upon their lower ends adapted to be interchangeably engaged with said transversely and longitudinally disposed rows of squared openings, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER HOCKIN. 

